‘Strong, smart and bold’, might not seem like an inspiring quote to you but it is definitely an inspiring one to me. My name is Brianna and my most impactful experience was my summer at Girls Inc. camp this past year. Girls Inc. inspires girls to be ‘strong, smart and bold’. These three words have taught me to not be afraid to be myself, stand up for what I believe in and to never give up. I first got introduced to Girls Inc. when they ran a program at my elementary school. After having such a positive experience my parents enrolled me in their summer camp and I have fell in love with it ever since.
My camp experience has affected me in such an amazing way. Through being mentored as a counselor in training, I have learned the skills to be a successful leader and I have gained a confidence in myself that I thought I would never be able to have. When I first started camp I was very shy and I didn’t really know where I fit in. But with the help of the girls and the counselors I found my voice and now I am willing to let it be heard. One of the most valuable things I learnt this summer was to embrace discomfort. There were many times at camp where I had to step out of my comfort zone and that was extremely difficult for me. But when I did I knew I could do anything I put my mind to.
It’s hard to explain how empowering Girls Inc. is. All the counselors there see the good in every girl and they are so passionate in everything they do. This means so much to me because they are always there for me. I often have self-doubt and I never had someone to tell me that I could achieve my goals. Once I came to camp I found people that believed in me. All the love and support I received was a tremendous part of why I fell in love with Girls Inc.
Being a girl should not limit the opportunities to continue your education and have a platform to share your voice. Thanks to Girls Inc. that’s not my story.
I have grown so much and in so many ways after my experience at camp, and it has helped shape me into the person I am today. But often people ask, why is girls Inc. so important to you and others? And I reply by saying that in a world where we try to inspire woman to be empowering people, shouldn’t we start with our youth? This is exactly what Girls Inc. does and I’m so happy they are a part of my life.
-Brianna, age 13